The
Tribulations of Honesty – Part 5
Tonight Lexie actually wished that she could drink like Archie undoubtedly was.
But she couldn't, she was pregnant with buggerlugs.
Stevie had used that word so many times in reference to their unborn child that
they found that they too had subconsciously taken it on board and often used
the Australian expression as well. Archie had once made the comment that if
that ended up being their second child's name, it was all Steve's fault.
Lexie smiled at the bitter sweet memory, then tried to push it out of her mind
as she took another sip of the cup of tea that Teena had made her. She glanced
up and saw her friend watching her intently. Lexie had told her the whole story
of how Archie had gone to Nepal with Lizzie and left her at Glenbogle.
She had also told her all about Paul too, and how he had been there for her and
helped to support her. He had said things to her that Archie hadn't said in a
long time, things that made her feel better, special…. feel loved.
Lexie had seen that Paul as attracted to her, but had chosen to ignore it at
the start. It was just a crush; she was his sister-in-law after all. There was
no way that anything could grow from it, and besides- she was happily married.
It was only after Archie had gone away that she had started to actually
reciprocate the feelings.
She could see Archie in him, and she was missing her husband terribly. They
were both aware of their growing feelings, but fought desperately to keep them
at bay. There had been moments, but that had been all that they were.
Lexie liked to know that she could still attract a man, as selfish as it
sounded, it made her feel important- she craved the attention. But in the end
Archie had come first, and she had made that clear to Paul. It was Archie she
wanted, not him.
Then Archie had come home and she was so happy that she forgot about everything
except having him back. Paul had gone away for a year and she had fallen
pregnant with Melanie. By this time she had forgotten that she'd ever had
feelings for her brother-in-law. Her family was her life.
Teena broke through her recollections
" Do you have photos?"
" What?" Lexie asked, wondering what the hell photos had to do with anything
" Yeah, photos of Glenbogle, Paul everything. I want to see it all." Teena
explained
" Um, yeah sure. They're in our bedroom."
" Let's go have a search." Teena announced, taking Lexie's hand and leading her
up the stairs
It didn't take long to track down the box that they were looking for. It was in
the cupboard with countless other things that they had brought from Glenbogle
and not yet found a place for in their suburban house.
Lexie lifted the lid and peered inside, a grin lifting the corners of her lips
" This brings back so many memories." Lexie whispered, fingering the first
photo album before opening its pages to transport them back to the estate in
the Scottish highlands.
Teena grabbed the second album and stretched out on Archie and Lexie's queen
sized bed. She flipped the pages with much ooooing and ahhhing.
" I've seen this one," She acknowledged, holding at the album to reveal photos
of their wedding
" Yes, that's our wedding photo. It's in the hall downstairs, and on the desk
at the restaurant." Lexie commented, going back to the album she was flicking
through
" That's your wedding? Very casual wasn't it?" Teena inquired, turning the page
" Yes, it was a bit unexpected. But thoroughly romantic, just what I wanted in
the end." Lexie explained
" Owww Lex these photos are sweet. Where's this?"
Lexie glanced up again, placing her album on the floor and climbing up onto the
bed with Teena
" That's our honeymoon." Lexie grinned, " It was magnificent."
" Looks it you lucky bugger" Teena whistled
Lexie raised her eyebrows, " You've been around Stevie too long"
Teena laughed, " You know you don't even notice after a bit"
Lexie smiled and waited for her to turn the page
" Is that Paul?" Teena asked, taking in the tall, well-defined man on the next
page
" Yes" Lexie confirmed, " That's him."
Ooh ooh
The grass ain't always green
And if it's hurting you
You know that's its hurting me
You know that's its hurting me
' If it's Hurting You', Robbie Williams
Archie made sure he got the next round of drinks so that it would actually be
something that he liked. Stevie hadn't had much to say after Archie's
confession of why Lexie and he weren't getting along.
'What was there to say?' Archie wondered as he balanced the drinks the best he
could and made the precarious journey back to the booth
He made it- just, and watched as the other men took their drinks and swigged
them down. Archie moved his to the side and placed his head on the cool surface
of the table, he didn't want to do this. He wanted to be at home in bed with
Lexie, knowing that Melanie was in the room down the hall and that his unborn
child was safe and healthy between them.
Thoughtfully he took his wedding ring off his finger and placed it next to his
drink. Stevie watched him pensively; although he had had nearly twice as much
beer as Archie he was still as alert as ever.
" Hey mate, don't do that" He insisted, taking the ring from the table and
handing it back to its owner
Archie shook his head; " I just don't want to wear it right now Steve."
Stevie regarded him uncertainly, "Are you sure?"
Archie nodded, " I can't handle it all right now."
Stevie raised his eyebrows, " Hey mate, we all have barneys every so often. You
shouldn't make any snap decisions when you're pissed and knackered. Let's get
you home."
Archie sat back and stared at him, " I trusted them. I trusted Paul to look
after her while I was away, and I trusted Lex to be faithful."
" And she was mate. She said she'd had feelings, but she didn't act on them.
Give her some credit."
" How do I know she didn't act on them? How can I even trust her now?" Archie
asked
Stevie inclined his head towards him, " How long have you two been married?"
" Nearly eight years" Archie calculated
" Do you love her?"
" Of course I bloody do" Archie dismissed, " But that's beside the point"
" Is it?" Stevie asked, finishing off another beer
Archie regarded him thoughtfully, before downing the remaining liquid in his
glass and gradually getting to his feet.
" Let's go"
" Fine, I'm zonked anyway" Stevie answered, reaching for his jacket
" Can I stay at your place?" Archie asked, once they had hailed a taxi
Steve searched the other man's face before agreeing tentatively " Okay"
Archie nodded and rested his head on the taxi window, closing his eyes. Stevie
watched him and wondered how Teena was doing with Lexie. Slowly he reached into
his pocket and drew out Archie's wedding ring, holding it between his fingers
he gazed at it and wondered how the story would end.
'With this ring you will be mine
With this ring I'll multiply
With this ring surrendering to you
What's a boy to do?'
- 'Disenchanted Lullaby', The Foo Fighters
